New City Administrator Takes Oath of Office

The City of Olney officially welcomed its new city administrator, Andy Wolfe, during a recent swearing-in ceremony conducted by City Attorney Dan Branum, marking the beginning of a new chapter in city leadership.

Mr. Wolfe, who previously served as public works director for the City of Graham, moved to Olney in May with his wife and two daughters. The family has settled into a home on FM 2178 as Mr. Wolfe begins overseeing the day-to-day operations of the city government.

His arrival comes during a pivotal period for Olney, which is navigating several major projects and leadership transitions.

Among Mr. Wolfe’s most significant responsibilities is overseeing construction of the city’s new water treatment plant, one of the largest infrastructure investments in recent memory. He will also play a key role in helping establish two tax increment reinvestment zones, commonly known as TIRZs, which city leaders hope will spur residential, commercial, and industrial growth.

Mr. Wolfe steps into the job while North Texas continues to experience rapid growth driven by the arrival of more than a dozen data centers across the region.

One of the most closely watched developments is Project Saltworks, a proposed data center campus located about 16 miles south of Olney. The project, along with similar developments in neighboring counties, is expected to have far-reaching implications for infrastructure, utilities, workforce development, and regional planning.

Mr. Wolfe is the latest new face after a year of significant personnel changes at City Hall. During the past year, the city saw the departures of City Administrator Simon Dwyer, longtime City Attorney Bill Myers, and Police Chief Dan Birbeck. Voters also elected two new members to the City Council, Sammy Livingston and Colson Ballard. The City Council recently chose Assistant City Attorney Dan Branum to take over Mr. Myers’ job.